Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 114

14. What did Christ take away?

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of G.o.d, which taketh away _the sin of the world_." John 1:29.

15. What has Christ abolished?

"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath _abolished death_, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10.

16. What change is brought about through the gospel?

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a gla.s.s the glory of the Lord, are _changed into the same image_ from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18.

NOTE.-It is sometimes claimed that Christ changed, abolished, or took away the law, and put the gospel in its place; but this shows a misapprehension of the real work of Christ. The individual believer is changed by beholding the glory revealed in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4; John 1:14); death has been abolished through the death of Christ; and sin has been taken away by the great Sin-bearer; but the law of G.o.d still remains unchanged as the very foundation of His throne. See note on page 98.

17. What spiritual interpretation did Christ give to the sixth commandment?

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That _whosoever is angry with his brother_ without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, _Raca_, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, _Thou fool_, shall be in danger of h.e.l.l-fire." Matt. 5:21, 22.

18. How did He interpret the seventh commandment?

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That _whosoever looketh on a woman to l.u.s.t after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart_." Verses 27, 28.

19. Of what prophecy was this teaching a fulfilment?

"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; _He will magnify the law, and make it honorable_." Isa. 42:21.

NOTE.-Christ not only gave a spiritual interpretation to the law, and Himself observed it according to that interpretation, but He showed the holiness and the immutable nature of the law by dying on the cross to pay the penalty of its transgression. In this way, above all, He magnified the law, and showed its far-reaching, immutable, and imperishable nature.

20. In what promise was the gospel preached to Abraham?

"And the scripture, foreseeing that G.o.d would justify the heathen through faith, preached before _the gospel_ unto Abraham, saying, _In thee shall all nations be blessed_." Gal. 3:8.

21. On what basis was Abraham accounted righteous?

"For what saith the scripture? _Abraham believed G.o.d, and it was counted unto him for righteousness._" Rom. 4:3.

22. What scripture cuts off all hope of justification by works?

"Therefore _by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight_: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20.

23. In what way are all believers in Jesus justified?

"Being _justified freely by His grace_ through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Verse 24.

24. After this work of grace has been accomplished, is the believer expected to go on in sin?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

G.o.d forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

Rom. 6:1, 2.

NOTE.-Even in the days of Abraham the same gospel of righteousness by faith was preached as now, while the law made known sin, and witnessed to the righteousness obtained through faith, just as it has done since the cross. From this it is evident that the relation between the law and the gospel has always been the same.

25. What was Christ's personal att.i.tude toward the law?

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: _I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil_." Matt. 5:17. "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as _I have kept My Father's commandments_, and abide in His love." John 15:10.

26. What scripture shows that G.o.d's remnant people will have a right conception of the proper relation between the law and the gospel?

"Here is the patience of the saints: _here are they that keep the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus_." Rev. 14:12.

PART IX. THE SABBATH

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

In The Corn-Field On The Sabbath Day. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27.

Inst.i.tution Of The Sabbath

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Garden Of Eden. "G.o.d blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it." Gen.

2:3.

1. When and by whom was the Sabbath made?

"Thus the heavens and the earth, were finished, and all the host of them.

And _on the seventh day G.o.d ended His work_ which He had made; _and He rested on the seventh day_ from all His work which He had made." Gen. 2:1, 2.

2. After resting on the seventh day, what did G.o.d do?

"And G.o.d _blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it_: because that in it He had rested from all His work which G.o.d created and made." Verse 3.

3. By what three distinct acts, then, was the Sabbath made?